Power-transmitter.



P. DE COLIGNY.

POWER TRANSMITTER. t APPLIUATION FILED 0011.21, 190s.

Patented Sept. 7; 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'j 5 t E.l

l 37 /6| 55| gf I'. DE COLIGNY. POWER TRANSMITTER.

APPLIGATION FILED 001531. 1908-' 933,232, t Patented sept. 7, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

.v //N/, .f v n neutral) stra'rns .PATENT onricn.

FRANK DI: c'oLIoNY, or cHIoAeo. ILLINOIS, assIeNon "ro coLIoNY HYDRAULIC TRANS- MISSIQN CO., 'A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

PoWEmrnaNsnIrtI-En.

assess;

Specification qtrgfefisravent. i Patent-.eu sept. 7, tooo.

v Application mea october 21,1968. sriai No. 458,992.

provement in Power-Transmitters, of which y the following is a specilication. e

My invention relates to improvements inpower and speed transmissiowdevices of the class 1wherein the propelling force, of a driving against a driven member, is exerted through an interposed confined body of practically incompressible fluid and wherein the said 'force is varied by controlling the degree of slip of the said fluid.

This invention is. in the nature of an improvement upon the power-transmitter shown and, described in Letters Patent No. 870,814, granted to me November 12, 1907.\

. In the said patented construction a by-pass extends around a movable abutment carried by the driving member, the said by-pass be-` ing governed by a valve under control fromv the outside. In the present construction,the bypass is dispensed with and the degree of slip of the fluid lis regulated by the adjustment of the abutment itself, which adjustnient is under outside control.

My object is to provide a power-transmitter of the type described with theim provemcnt referred to, as WellY` as other improvements in details, all with a View to simplifying the construction and rendering the operationI more perfect. N

Referring to the accompanying drawingsf-FigureNl is a broken section of my improved transmitter, the section being taken on line 1 in Fig. 2 and enlarged; Fig. 2, a reduced section taken on line 2 in Fig.v 1; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken fragmentary View, partly in side elevation, and partly in section, thesect-ion being taken on line 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a broken partly sectional plan View taken on irregular line 4-4 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, a fragmentary section on line 5 in Fig. 3.

(-and 7 are alined shafts, one of which, preferably is the power or driving shaft, and 7, the driven shaft.

8 is one side of a hollow wheel or casing, secured at its hub-portion 9 upon the end of the shaftftf. and forming what I shall refer to as the driving memberof the device. The rim 10 of the wheel is integral with the side 8, and removably secured 'thereto is a side 11 having a hollow hub-portion 12 through which-the shaft` 7 passes. The shaftl 7 extends at its end into and is journaled in a sleeve 13, carried bythe side 8, and passes throu h tned between the inner surface of thes'id 11 and the bearing 13 is a wheel having a center 15 .and rim 16 and forming what I shall referto as the driven member of the transmittingdevice. Let into and secured to the sides 8, 11 is an annular partition 17 which divides the space between the rims of and inner concentric chambers 18 and 19 respectively. The A:rim 16 'of the driven member slldes at opposite sides, practically oil-tight, against annular bearing surfaces 20 formed on the sides 8, 11. Extending across the space or chamber 18 in the positions showli are partitions 21 and 22 forming between them a segmentalcompartment 23. At-said compartment the annular wall .or partition 17 is cut away to present the concaved end-surfaces 24, 25.

On the end at v25 is acentrally-perforated bearing projection 26 to which is hinged a swinging `abutment-valve 27 having an enlarged abrupt and se mental presser-face 28 fitting and sliding oi tight against the surface 24. At opposite corners of the abutment 27 are cam-.projections or contactsurfaces 29 of the relative`dimensions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4; and in the end 24 of the partition 17 are recesses 30. In the compartment 23 is a spring 31 fastening at one end against. the rim10 and at its other end to the swinging abutmentfvalve 27 and tending normally (in draw the latter into the compartment 23 yvhereby the cam-projections enter the recesses 30 and the inner s urface of the swinging abutment-valve extends Hush with the inner surface of the partition 17.

Pivoted at 32 in the compartment 23 is a swinging arm or lever 33 and interposed between the said lever and abutment-valve is astem 34 having a ball-and-sooket connection at opposite ends with the lever and abutment-valve respectively` AI4`ittir`1g and sliding through a stuffing-box 35 in the side 11 .is a stem 3G-carrying rollers 37, 37 bearing respectively against the inner surface of the rim 110 and lever The tendency of the 1 toward` therim 10 -t move the a'loutnw-nt-y `a stuffing-box 14 in the hub 12. Conthe dri ving and driven members into outer spring 31 is .to swing the lever at its free Aend 5 valve 27 to its retracted or open position, and the stem 36 with its rollers 37 operate as a spreader which by its inward movement forces the swinging end of the abutmentvalve to or toward the rim 16 of the driven member, and which by its outward movement ermits the abutment-valve to lloe retracte by the spring. The stem 36 lssconnected at its outer end to the end of a lever 38 fulcrumed between its ends in a bracket 39 on the side 11. The opposite end of the lever 38 forms a yoke 4() straddling and pivotally engaging a segmental bearingblock 41 fitting loosely an annular groove 42 in a sliding sleeve 43 mounted on the hub 12. 44 is an operating lever fulcrumed between its ends to a stationary support 45 and pivotally secured at one end to a segmental bear-, ing-block 46 loosely 4engaging an annular groove 47 in the sliding sleeve 43. Movement'of'the operating lever 44 slides the sleeve 43 and swings the lever 38 to move the Wedge-device for the purpose described.

`At diametrically opposite points in the driven member are recesses 48-49 extendf ing through the rim 16 into the web 15 and in open communication with the space surrounded by the rim 16. Working 1n the recess 48 is a swinging abutment 50 hinged at 51 to the rim; and working in the recess 49 is a swinging abutment 52 hinged to the rim at 53. Springs 54 in the bases of the recesses 48-49 tend normally to swing the abutments 50-52, which are of the same width as the rim 16, outward to cause them,

l-near their abrupt, segmental presser-faces 55, which bear slidably but oil-tight against the ends of the recesses, to close against the inner annular bearing surface formed by the partition 17. On the free ends of the abutments -52 are chamfered lips 56 which, .when the said abutments are retracted, as

indicated in Fig. 3, enter recesses 57 in the rim 16. Extending from t-he recesses 47`48 in opposite side edges of the rim 16 are shallow recesses 58, 4and working in the said recesses 58 between the rim and bearing surfaces 2O of the sides 8-11 are camlates 59 presenting segment'at contact-sur aces set into and fastened-to the swinging end-portions of the abutments 50-52. The under surface of the lip 56 on each abutment exceeds in area the outer surfaces of the cam- `p`fat`, or plates, 59 carried 'by the abutment, andacts as a pressure equalizer, as hereinafter explained. Each abutment may, if

desired, have but one duin-plate 59 instead of two, though twoare preferred. i

The entire space the driving wheel surrounded bythe anrfiilar wall or partition l'Z is nearly filled with an incompressible fluid which may be, and preferably is, a suitable oil. In the web, 1 5 of the'driveu-member are openings 60 and in the bearing surfaces20 Just back -of the abutment-valve 27 are recesses 61. The openings 60 give open communication between opposite sides of the wheel-center and the recesses 61 afford communication between the central chamber portion, surrounded b v the rim 16, and the annular space 19 directly behind the abutment valve 27. v

In operation', when the abutment-valve 27 is opened by the sprlng 31 to cause its Inner surface to coincide with the inner surface of the partition 17, the turning of the driving member will present no obstruction to the oil and the driven member will remain unmoved. If the spreader formed, as aforesaid, by the stem 36 and rollers 37 is moved to the position indicated in the figures, the abutment-valve 27 is swung against the surface of the rim 16 to close practically oilwould cause the driving member to rotate the driven member at a rate of speed equal to that of the driving member. The adjustment of the swinging abutment-valve 27 away from the surface of the rim 16 to partly close it will open a passage through which the confined oil may slip at a rate governed by the size of the opened passage. thereby proportionately reducing or relieving the pressure upon the body of oil and causing a proportionate reduction of the speed of the driven member. The abutment-valve 27 remains in its adjusted position and when partly open, to permit limited slip of the liquid and thereby cause the speed of the driving member to exceed that of the driven member, the cam projections 29 on the abutment-valve engage the cam-plates 59 causing the latter to be moved inward in the recesses 58 and open the abutment to which they are attached against the resistance of the spring 54 to permit the abutment-valve 27 to ride over 1t.

In practice, when t'hecams first'engage to effect initial opening movement of an abutment, the pressure of the liquid against |the` outer surface of the abut-ment will have the etl'ect of o ening it wide and thus maintain the same s ip of the liquid at all times.

The space or chamber bounded by the rim 16 operates asan oil-reservoir and. in the turning of the driven member, the tendency will be to maintain the annular chamber l always completely filled with liquid` b v centrifugal force, through the recesses 61 behind the abutment-'valve l 'llie construction dispenses with valves other than the adjust- ICC llltl abutments `is relieved when they pass the fortact-surfaces 59, carried by the Vabutment 50,

neath -the partly open abutmentvalve, as to .sure of the liquid against. the under sides of the projecting lips 56.

'against the cam plates. Toprevent oi-l from to the space 19' ehind s a'id yalve.

escasa able abutment-valve; and by means of thei adjusting mechanism described, the degree of slip of the confined body of liquid and consequently the power-transmission may be quickly and accurately changed as desired.4 The lever 44 may be operated manually, or it may be operated from ay speed-gevernor in a common manner; and the construct-ion may easily be arranged to cause what I have 'termed the driving member to be the driven member, and vice versa. Owing to the fact that the abutments and abutmentvalve swing upon pivots, in the manner set forth, they offer practica-ily no frietionalq'esistance lagainst movement under the binding-pressure of the liquid. lVhen the abutmentvalve is fully opened, causing the greatest relative speed lbetween the members, the abutments have no opening and closing movement, which is a great advantage.

When the abutment-valve is only partlyI closed to permit the desired degree of slip of the liquid, and consequent-ly the desired difference in relative Speed of the members, the engagement of the abutment-valve cams, or contactssurfaces, 29 with the cams, or con- 52, as they pass each other will cause merely initial opening movement of the abutments, this action of the cams being supplemented vby the pressure of the liquid upon the abutments to complete opening of the same, against the resistance of the springs 54 and centrifugal force. Thus, as there is never; more than momentary contact against theI cam-plates, the, wearmpon the cams will be reduced toa minimum. The pressure of the liquid against the abutment, While passing the abutment-valve, will tend to prevent any such undue obstruction of the channel, be-

interfere with the liquid slip and thus with the regularity of the relative moyement of the driven member.' As, owing partly to the recesses 61, the liquid pressure upon the ward end of the abutment-valve, they close along the :under surface of the latter under the pressure of their springs and the preslhe outer surfaces of the lips 56 are chamfered as stated to tit oil-tight against the surface of the wall 17, andthe area of the underside of each lip is equal to, or, and preferably slightly exceeds the-'urea V.of the outer surfaces of the cam plates 59.v The lips thus loperate as pressure equalizers to at least balance the oil-pressure packing in the comiurrtment. and thus interfere with the movement of the abutmentvalve, a small assage v63 extends therefrom- While I prefer'toconstruct my improve-l ments throughout as shown :and described,

they may, obviously, be variously modified in the matter of details of construction Without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the claims.

lVl/hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a power-transmitter of the character described, the combination of independently rotatable outer and inner wheels comprising the driving and driven members and forming between them' an annular liquid-holding space, a swinging abutment carried by one of the wheels and closing normally liquidtight across said space, an abutment forming a valve,carried by the other wheel and adjustable from the outside to varying extents of closure across said space, and means interposed between the wheels in said space for causing the liquid pressure to produce `wide opening movement of one of said abutments as it approaches the other, for the purpose set forth.

2. In apoweret-ransmitter of the character described, the combination of independently rotatable outer and inner wheels comprising the driving and driven members and forming between then an annular liquid-holdin@ space, abutments carried by saidwheels an movable to open and close across said space, the abutment on one wheel being supported to yield under radial pressure against it of liquid in Said space, and means operating as the abutments approach each other to start opening movement of said yielding abut ment whereby the liquid pressure act-s to complete its opening movement, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a power-transmitter of the character described, the combination of independently i rotatable outer and inner wheels comprising the driving and driven members and forming between them an annular liquidholding space, a swinging abutment lcarried by one of the wheels, closing normally across said space and supported to yield under radial pressure against it of liquid in said space, an abutment, forming a valve, carried by the other wheel and adjustable from the outside to varying extents of closure across said space, and means 'carried by the abut ments themselves for starting opening movement of said swinging abutment as it approaches the abutment-valve, whereby the liquid pressure acts to complete said opening movement. i

4. In a power-transmitter of thecharacter described, the combination of independently rotatable outer and inner Wheels comprising the driving and driven members and frming between them an annular liquid-holding space, a swinging abutment pivoted at one .end to one of the Wheels and formed at its opposite swinging end with an abru t lpresser-face at which it .closes normal y at one end to the other wheel and formed at 'its opposite swinging end with an abrupt described, the combination of independently rotatable outer and inner wheels com rising the driving and driven members an forming between them an annular liquid-holding space, a swinging abutment pivoted at .one

end to one of the wheels and formed at its opposite swinging end with .an abrupt presser-face at which it closes normally across said space, a valve on the other wheel having an abrupt presser-face and adjustable from the outside ,to varying extents of closure across said space, the abutment and valve being provided with mutually engageable abutment-deflecting contact-surfaces independent of their presser-faces.

6. In a power-transmitter of the character described, the combination of independently rotatable outer and inner wheels comprising the driving and driven members and forming between them an annular liquidholding space, swinging abutments carried by one of the wheels and closing normallyliquid-tight across said space, Yan abutmentvalve carried by the other wheel and adjustable from the outside to varying extents of closure across said space, means for producing opening movement of the abutments as they approach but before they reach the abutment-valve, and liquid-supplying means for said space behind said abutment-Valve, for the-purpose set forth.

7. In a power-transmitter o`f the cha-rac'- ter described, the combination of independently rotatable outerand inner wheels comprisin@r the driving and driven members and orming between them an annular liquid-holding space, swinging abutments carried by one of the wheels and closing normally across said space, a valve carried by the other wheel and adjustable from the outside to Varying extents of closure across said space, and projecting ctms carried by the abutmonts operating by Contact with the valve to effect initial movement of the abut-A ments as they approach but 'before they reach the valve, whereby the liquid pressure acts to complete their opening movements. v 8. In a power-transmitter of the character described, the combination ofindependently rotatable louter and-inner wheels comprising the driving and driven members-and forming between them an annular liquid-holding space, a swinging abutment pivoted at one end to one of the wheels and formed at its opposite swinging end with an abrupt presser face lat which it closes normally across said space, al valve on the other wheel having an abrupt )resser-faceand adjustable from the outsi e to varyln extents of closure across said space, an'v a valve-engaging cam and a pressure-equalizer therefor both projecting from the resser-face of the swlnging abutment, for t e purpose set forth.

9. In a power-transmitter of the character described, the combination of independently rotatable outer and inner wheels comprising the driving and driven members and forming between them an annular liquidholding s ace, a swinging abutment ivoted at one en to one of the wheels and ormed at its op )osite swinging end with an abrupt presserace at which it closes normal y across said space, a valve on the other wheel having an abrupt presser-face and adjustable from the outside to varying extents of closure across said space, a pair of valve-engaging cams and a ressureequalizer therefor bothA projecting from the presser-face of the swinging abutment, and cam-projections on the presser-face of the valve, for the purpose set forth.

10. In a power-transmitter of the character described, the combination of hollow independently rotatable outer and inner wheels comprising the driving and driven members and forming ,between them an annular liquid-holding space,the inner wheel forming a li uid-reservoir, a swinging abutment carried y one of the wheels and closing normally liquid-tight across said space, an abutment forming a valve carried by the other wheel and adjustable from the outside to varying extents of closure across said space, means interposed between the wheels in said space for causing the liquid pressure to produce wide opening movement of one of said abutments as it approaches the other, and a passage extending from the interior of the inner Wheel to said space through which liquid is supplied to the space by centrifugal force'.

11. In a power-transmitter` of the charac-l ter described `the combination of independently rotatable outer and inner wheels comprising the driving and driven members and forming between them an annular liquidholding space, abutments carried by one of the wheels and closing normally liquid-tight across said space, a single swinging abutment-valve carried by the other Wheel, spread er-mechanism, operative y\ engaging 'the abutment-valve, adjustable from ytire outsidel to close the abutment-valve toirarying extents across said space, and means for producing opening movement of the abutments as they approach but lbefore they reach the abutment valve, for'the purpose f set forth.

12. In a power-transmitter of the charac-'V iso ter described the combinationof independspreader-mechanism o erativel engaging 10 ently rotatable outer and inner wheels com said abutment-valve an adjusta le from the rising the ldriving and driven members and outside to close the abutment-valve to varyorming between them an annular liquiding extents,l across said space, for the purpose 5 holding space, abutments carried by one of set forth.

FRANK DE COLIGNY.

the wheels and closing normally liquid-ti ht;`

across said s ace,.a, swinging abutment-va ve In presence ofv carried by t e other wheel, a spring tendin J. G. ANDERSON, normally to open said abutment-Valve, and R. A. SCHAEFER. 

